the paper.

"Don't call him my cousin! I don't care to own him."

"I don't know," said his father, who was quite as selfish, but not as
malicious as Raymond. "I am not sure but it will be considered a credit
to us to have such a relative."

"Anybody could have done as much as he did," said Raymond in a tone of
discontent. "Here's some news of your train-boy, Luella," he continued,
as his sister entered the room.

"Has he been arrested?" asked Luella listlessly.

"Not at all! He turns out to be a hero," said her father.

"I suppose that is a joke."

"Read the paper and see."

The young lady read the account with as little pleasure as Raymond.

"How on earth came a boy like that at the Wainwrights' house?" she said
with a curl of the lip. "Really, society is getting very much mixed."

"Perhaps," said her father, "it was his relationship to the future
Countess Cattelli."

Luella smiled complacently. She had fallen in with an Italian count, an
insignificant looking man, very dark and with jet black hair and
mustache, of whom she knew very little except that he claimed to be a
count. She felt that he would propose soon, and she had decided to
accept him. She did not pretend to love him, but it would be such a
triumph to be addressed as the Countess Cattelli. She would let Alfred
Lindsay see that she could do without him.

CHAPTER XXVII.

A CONFIDENTIAL MISSION.

When Fred met Mr. Wainwright at the office the next morning his
employer greeted him with a pleasant smile, but did not stop to speak.
Fred felt relieved, for it embarrassed him to be thanked, and since the
evening previous no one had met him without speaking of his heroism.
Now Fred was inclined to be modest, and he could not possibly feel that
he had done anything heroic, though he was quite aware that he had
saved the life of Rose Wainwright. He looked upon it rather as a
fortunate opportunity for rendering his employer a valuable service.

At one o'clock Fred took his hat, intending to go to lunch. He lunched
at a quiet place in Nassau Street, and never spent over twenty-five
cents for this meal, feeling that he must give the bulk of his salary
to his mother.

He was just going out when he heard his name called.

Looking back, he saw that it was the broker himself who was speaking to
him. Mr. Wainwright had his hat on, and seemed about going out, too.

"You must go to lunch with me to-day, Fred."

"Thank you, sir," answered Fred resp